Wildcats should be in the hunt again this year
Chris Peterson | Hungry Horse News | UPDATED 11 months, 3 weeks AGO
The football team runs through drills Monday.
The Columbia Falls football team should be right in the postseason mix again this year, with a host of returning talent from last year’s squad.
Banyan Johnston started at quarterback as a sophomore last year and looks bigger and better this year, with a talented receiving corps to throw to like senior Easton Brooks, and junior Jory Hill as well as Tripp Ross, who also is a running back.
They also have Chris Davis returning in the backfield and Kyler Voermans is proving to be a capable backup to Johnston, coach Kelly Houle said.
The offensive line is anchored by senior center Kaden Kaber, and looks to be quick and athletic with the addition of Ryan and Caleb Mee.
On the D-line look for Tristan Anderson at nose tackle and Billy Jo West to get at opposing quarterbacks. Hill and Brooks are solid in the secondary as well and Ross anchors the linebackers along with Daniel Contreras.
All told, there’s about 55 players on the team, including JV.
“We’re a brotherhood and we love each other – LEO,” Houle said of the team’s motto this season.
There’s been some coaching changes and shifts, as Austin Green, last year’s offensive coordinator left to join the Columbia Falls Police Department.
This year Austin Barth is offensive coordinator, Bill Coleman defensive coordinator with a host of supporting staff including Ron LaTray, Jacob Babcock, Simeon Martin, Brian McGrath and Kole Cordier.
McGrath coaches JV. Babcock played for the Cats back in the day and also at Carroll College. Martin is fresh out of college having played at Chadron State.
The squad gets tested early this season. This year they were able to choose their non-conference opponents from a pool and Houle said he wanted quality competition so they’ll open in Lewistown this Friday, then travel to Frenchtown the following week.
They then open at home against East Helena Sept. 12. The conferences have realigned again, with the Northwest back on its own. Bigfork should be tough, Whitefish is always a great rivalry game and Polson is improved.